Bhubaneswar, Sep 5: In its 30th year of celebration, the annual Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra (GKCM) Award Festival commenced with a beautiful and soulful Ghazal recital by eminent singer Chandan Dass, here on Thursday.
The seven-day cultural extravaganza organised by Srjan Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Odissi Nrityabasa will continue till September 11.
The programme will feature notable artistes including celebrated musicians Kalaimamani Dr.OS Arun, Pt. Rakesh Chaurasia, Ojas Adhiya, and Ambi and Bindu Subramaniam, and renowned dancers Guru Vaibhav Arekar and Guru Ashimbandhu Bhattacharjee with their troupes, and Guru Ratikant Mohapatra’s very own Srjan ensemble.
The award ceremony on the final day will see stalwart artistes Guru Kumkum Lal, Guru Lakshmikanta Palit, Guru Dhaneswar Swain, and Uttam Mohanty receive the Shalimar’s Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Award 2024, while Dr.Pompi Paul, Rajnita Mehra, Avijit Das, and Rohita Pradhan will receive the Shalimar’s Guru Kelucharan Mohapatra Yuva Prativa Samman 2024.
The inaugural evening commenced with the auspicious lighting of the lamp, and the welcome address. The esteemed guests for the evening included Suresh Pujari, Revenue Minister, Prof. Dr.Tej Partap, Vice Chancellor, Sri Sri University (SSU), Cuttack; Ashok Kumar Tripathy, former member, Board of Revenue; Pankaj Lochan Mohanty, Chairman, MGM Minerals Ltd. and Guru Ratikant Mohapatra, Director, Srjan, and Dean, Faculty of Arts, Communication and Indic Studies, SSU.
The soulful Ghazal rendition of Chandan Dass was replete with his distinctive style of singing with the signature aura of his hometown Murshidabad. A Begum Akhtar Puraskar recipient, the deep influence of the inimitable style of legend Mehdi Hassan shone bright as he lent his voice to the works of several renowned poets.
Aiming to promote and preserve the rich Ghazal tradition of India, his harmonious recital with his accompanying orchestra on the opening evening of the 30th GKCM Award Festival 2024 was a befitting inauguration and tribute to the Arts. He was ably accompanied by Arshad Khan on Tabla, Abhiram Nanda on the flute, Arif Lateef on the keyboard, and Bhabhatosh Mohanty on the guitar.
The curtains drew to a close as Srjan awaits yet another evening of cultural immersion, with the Bharatanatyam performance of reputed Bharatanatyam exponent Guru Vaibhav Arekar and the Sankhya Dance Company from Mumbai, who will present Shrimant Yogi, a homage chronicling the life and times of the legendary Shivaji Maharaj.
